Creed Bratton (claims to have been born November 1, 1925)[1] is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. Confusion may arise from the fact that the character is played by and partially based on musician of the same name, Creed Bratton. Unlike most characters of this version of The Office, he has no analog in the original BBC series despite sharing similar lines in the pilot episode with the character of Malcolm. B.J. Novak has said that the actual Creed Bratton is exactly like the character he plays, except that the real Creed is a good-hearted and likable person, while his fictional alter ego has a very dark side to him.

Creed Bratton is a deviant, former hippie employed at the Scranton branch branch of fictitious paper distributor Dunder Mifflin as a quality assurance director. Creed is a mysterious figure who is prone to saying bizarre or confusing statements on a regular basis. As a result of drug use during his career as a rock musician in the 1960s, Creed has a phenomenally poor memory. He doesn't remember his job title of Quality Assurance, calling it "Quabitty Ashwoods", later stating that he should have written it down. He unapologetically forgets the names of his own co-workers, once referring to Angela as "Andrea", "Pumpkin" and "the office bitch", Stanley as "Sammy", Meredith as "Mary Beth", "the red head", or "the chick Michael hit with the car", Andy as Jim, Oscar as "Ace", Dwight as "Cheroot" and Darryl as "Darnell". However, he usually remembers Pam's name, (although he has also referred to her simply as "the receptionist" even forgetting what her name was in an episode, asking, "Which one is Pam?") and in "Night Out", he was ironically the only one to know the name of Hank, the security guard. He also referred to Jim as "the tall guy" when Michael asked about what had happened after his engagement announcement. He also thought that Jim & Pam were brother and sister, rather than a couple. In "The Convention", he introduces himself to Meredith, implying that he thinks she just started working at Dunder Mifflin. When seen at his office computer, he is usually playing solitaire. In the episode "Take Your Daughter to Work Day", Creed reveals that he had four toes on his right foot and attempts to show it to the group of children. In another episode he reveals he has a daughter and tries to hook Jim up with her, when Jim says he already has a fiancee Creed says "I thought you were gay?". Despite all of this, Creed generally has a cheery mood and is tolerated by his fellow employees.

Little is known about Creed's life outside the office; the scattered details that emerge (as well as his behavior in the office) are invariably bizarre and it is unknown how much of what he says is true. In season 2 episode "The Carpet", when Creed discovers the smell of what is implied to be feces in Michael's office he says, "Is someone making soup?" He is also extremely dishonest, with details emerging of his many scams, including faking his own death, and in the Season 4 episode "Fun Run" he admits to being involved in many religious cults saying that "you have more fun as a follower, but you make more money as a leader". He is a serious kleptomaniac and regularly steals items from coworkers, charity drives, and even tears off a card from a gift at Phylis' wedding in order to pretend that it's his. When asked his age, the reply varies wildly depending upon what suits him at the time. In "Fun Run", Creed states that he will soon be 82. In the next episode ("Dunder Mifflin Infinity"), attempting to look young, he dyes his hair black (with ink from a printer cartridge from a printer in the office ) and says that he is 30 years old. He then corrects himself, saying that he'll be 30 in November.[2] During the poker game in "Casino Night", Creed admits to stealing things very frequently and describes it as "just something that I do". For example, he steals large amounts of poker chips in order to win the refrigerator during the same episode. In "Money", when explaining how he never goes bankrupt, he holds up his passport issued in the name William Charles Schneider, actor Creed Bratton's actual birth name (Bratton's real passport). The passport indicates that he was born on February 8, 1943, the real Creed Bratton's birthdate, and in California, also the actor's birthplace. The real Creed Bratton was 64 at the time the episodes were filmed and aired.

Creed is working towards Scuba diving stating "If I can't scuba, then what's this all been about? What have I been working towards?" . Creed's favorite thing to eat on his birthday is peach cobbler. Creed drives an 80's Lincoln Town Car, a car that Michael believes was named after the first president in "New Leads" (Michael erroneously believes Abraham Lincoln was the first president of the United States).

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A product of the 60s, Creed is older than all of the other employees at the office. Prior to joining Dunder Mifflin, he was most notably a member of the rock band The Grass Roots in the late 60s (as was the real-life Creed Bratton).[1][3] Still a drug user[3] (primarily marijuana[4][5]), Creed suffers from its effects; he admits to having poor concentration. One can assume that he correctly identifies the strain of marijuana ("Northern Lights" Cannabis indica) in a picture Dwight shows him.[4]

Creed was originally hired by then-regional manager Ed Truck.[6] He now serves as the quality assurance manager. Creed can be counted on to shirk nearly all responsibility, ranging from informal office duties such as spring cleaning[7] to his primary job responsibilities.[8]

Outside of work, Creed teeters on the edge of homelessness, and has professed his willingness to do whatever it takes to avoid becoming homeless again.[8] He lives in Toronto, spending three nights a week there in order to milk the welfare state, and surreptitiously sleeps under his desk the remainder of the week.[9] However, since this was revealed in a deleted scene, it may not be considered wholly canonical. In another episode, he reveals to Jim that he lives in Scranton near "the quarry," and invites Jim to "throw things down there" with him.

Creed appears not to be bound by moral guidelines, exhibited most notably by his kleptomania. The episode "Casino Night" provides the first glimpse into this side of Creed's personality. He steals gambling chips in order to win the evening's prize, and admits in a talking head interview, "I love stealing things." and "Oh, I steal things all the time. It's just something I do. I stopped caring a long time ago. " Once revealed, his kleptomania returns in subsequent episodes, either explicitly or implied. For example, he takes a toy from a toy drive drop box[10] and returns $40 to Michael; when Michael says that he didn't give Creed the money, Creed tells him, "In a way, you did," implying that he stole it from Michael's wallet.[11] He has been caught stealing at least twice by Jim. In the episode titled "Local Ad", Jim buys breakfast for Pam because she slept at her desk all night. When she wakes, Jim explains that Creed snatched her hash browns while she was asleep on her keyboard.

Creed's lack of shame or morals extends beyond mere kleptomania. He places his wedding card on another guest's gift,[12] and continues to stare at Pam's chest when she wears a low-cut sweater. When she asks him to stop, he serenely says, "In a minute."[13] He even submits a formal complaint to Toby that says that he "is sick of looking at the redhead all day, and wants a seat facing the receptionist."[14] In a deleted scene, Creed says that he has a friend named Jorge who will hook Toby up with anything he wants, including "this amazing coffee that you snort".

Creed has likely been arrested multiple times, as he assumed he needed a profile shot for his ID photo.[14]

Little is known of Creed's childhood. In an interview,[15] Creed explains that he was left on a doorstep and adopted by a Chinese family, which also explains his ability to speak Mandarin Chinese.[16] He explains that the family bound his feet, unaware that the practice was traditionally restricted to young girls; he lost a toe in the process. He has tried to show off his four toes in many episodes. Creed also claims that he was in an iron lung when he was a child.

Creed writes a blog called "CreedThoughts". He believes its URL is www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts, but his "blog" is actually a Microsoft Word document set up by Ryan Howard, wanting to "protect the world from being exposed to Creed's brain". Describing the content of the blog, Ryan says, "Even for the Internet, it's...pretty shocking." NBC provides the character with an actual blog at http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/creed-thoughts/.

Creed can be seen in the background and in group scenes in the first season, but no story lines developed around him.[19]

In "Halloween", Michael is ordered to fire someone and he considers Creed (who is dressed as a vampire), but Creed fights back and suggests Devon instead, and Devon is fired. Later in the season, it is revealed that Creed has four toes on his right foot (because his adoptive Chinese parents bound his feet as a young child) and enjoys arcade-style shooting games. He reveals to Michael that he spent some time in an iron lung when he was a teenager. In a deleted scene from "Christmas Party", Creed reveals to Oscar Martinez that he was "Wacky Weed Creed", a radio D.J. during the 1970s which Oscar declares in a talking head interview "that Creed is a very interesting guy to talk to."

In a deleted scene from "Booze Cruise", he takes an electric guitar from a failing Michael and performs a blues hit to an enthusiastic reception. He then reveals that he was once a member of The Grass Roots, and as a result of drug abuse cannot concentrate for longer than 90 seconds. He speaks simple Cantonese and has friends in China, possibly Huadu. He can identify strains of cannabis in high-resolution photographs. He snacks on nutritious mung bean sprouts, which he keeps stashed in his desk on a damp paper towel, though he admits that "they smell like death". In "Casino Night", Creed steals poker chips to win the evening's prize, a mini-fridge from Vance Refrigeration. He states that he has never owned a refrigerator before. In a talking head interview, Creed gleefully says "I love stealing."

In "Gay Witch Hunt", Creed says that he made love to many women during the 1960s "often outdoors, in the mud and rain", and "it's possible a man slipped in; there would be no way of knowing." When Pam, at Kelly's insistence, wears a slightly more revealing shirt than is usual, Creed comes to her desk and stares at her for an awkwardly long time. When she asks him what he wants, he says that he is "just looking."

In "Diwali", he immediately recognizes a sexual position in the Kama Sutra by name ("The Union of the Monkey").

In one episode, Karen Filippelli is seen playing with Hannah Smoterich-Barr's baby. Creed approaches her and dangles a chain of paper clips in front of the infant. When Karen tells Creed that it's dangerous to let a baby play with paper clips, Creed replies that it's okay because he has lots of them.

In "Branch Closing", he expands on his love of stealing by selling $1,200 worth of office equipment when he thinks his branch is closing. When Hannah exposes her breast to put milk in a baby bottle, he takes a picture of it and puts it on the computer. When confronted about the picture, he states he was "at the right place at the right time."

In a deleted scene in "The Convict", he tells of a Pruno wine that he made with ketchup in the toilets, and then said, "God I miss that stuff".

In "A Benihana Christmas", he joins Karen and Pam's party and performs a real song of his, "Spinnin' N Reelin'".

In "The Return", Creed's memory problems are revealed when he confuses the death of Ed Truck with the departure of Dwight Schrute from Dunder Mifflin. (This confusion also suggests Creed could have misinformed Michael about the circumstances of Ed Truck's death in the earlier episode "Grief Counseling"). He does seem to remember some facts, such as the funeral for the bird in the parking lot.

In "Business School", he attempts to exterminate a bat that has entered the office using a can of pesticide. When Kelly tells him not to, out of sympathy for the bat, Creed informs her that "animals can't feel pain." Creed also readily enters into "an alliance" with Dwight to, if necessary, take violent action against Jim—Dwight fears Jim was bitten by the bat and may turn into a vampire, or perhaps merely carry the "vampiric germ". Without hesitation, Creed fashions a stake, using tools he has readily available in his desk.

In "Cocktails", Creed is greeted warmly by a group of teenagers entering Poor Richard's Pub. He reveals to the camera that he runs a fake ID business out of the trunk of his car with a laminator that he stole from the sheriff's department.

In "The Negotiation", Creed creates an extreme tale of Roy's attack of Jim, falsely claiming that "Halpert" had stolen Roy's car. He also said that Roy came in "very late at night" with a sock filled with nickels, and that "Cheroot" defended himself with a can of hair spray and a lighter. When he tells this version of events, Angela denounces him as "useless", and Creed immediately returns to his business.

In "Product Recall", his negligence leads to paper being sent out with an obscene watermark. Every week he is supposed to do a four-hour quality spot check at the paper mill, and he is indignant that the watermark problem happened during the one year that he skipped out on those duties. He then does everything he can to keep his job and survive, like "I did when I was a homeless man". Creed engineers the transfer of blame from himself to a paper mill manager, for whom he procures a card and farewell money collected from all the workers; on his way out, he pockets the money and tosses the card. In a deleted scene, it was revealed that Creed faked his own death 10 years ago "for tax reasons", and admits that he draws benefits as his own widow.

In "Women's Appreciation", Creed is shown using the women's bathroom. He says that he is a "pretty normal guy", who does one weird thing. "I go to the woman's bathroom to do number two. I've been caught several times and I have paid dearly." In the same episode, Phyllis recounts her run in with a flasher to which Creed responds with "The guy was just hanging brain; what's all the fuss?" He later tells the camera, "If that's flashing, then lock me up."

In "Beach Games", Creed is seen catching a fish with his bare hands, and then shows up later to a hot dog eating contest holding a fish skeleton and says, "Nobody told me we were having hot dogs!"

In "The Job", Creed blogs about Pam's speech at the beach in his "blog," which is actually a Microsoft Word document that Ryan opens up on his computer. Ryan describes the things Creed writes about as shocking, "even for the Internet." In a deleted scene, Creed is seen counterfeiting Dwight's motivational "Schrute Bucks" and takes several 50-pound boxes of them to Dwight demanding payment. After Dwight uses an invisible ink marker to determine that they are fakes Creed tells him "Listen, Schrutey" and threatens to flood the market with the fake Schrute bucks to render them worthless.[21]

In a preview for Season 4, Creed states that "it turns out" he has grandchildren and children, presumably from his many relationships in 1960s ("The Office Summer Vacation" NBC promotional video). In another video on NBC.com, he states that "some kid he sold weed to got a job in Corporate" (implying Ryan).

In "Fun Run", Creed states that he has been a member of many religious cults, both as a leader and follower. He prefers to be a follower, but gets paid more for being a leader. He also displays an extensive knowledge of painkillers when he questions Meredith on what kinds of medication she has been administered for her pelvic fracture. In a deleted scene, he swallows all of Meredith's painkillers and leaves none for an incredulous Meredith to take.

In "Dunder Mifflin Infinity", Creed dyes his hair black with printer ink, drinks Red Bull, tries to use slang terms, and refers to himself as being just under 30 to escape Ryan's supposedly imminent weeding out of older workers.

In "Chair Model", he is anxious for Michael to get a new chair, as Pam gets Michael's old chair and he gets Pam's. Then, Creed will have two chairs and will have "only one to go."

He stated that he transfers his debt to another identity named "William Charles Schneider", which is the actor's birth name. It is suggested that this is the character's actual name as well.[22]

In "Job Fair", Creed referred to Angela as "pumpkin", indicating that he had forgotten her name completely, as opposed to botching it by calling her "Andrea".

In "Did I Stutter?", as Dwight is showing Michael a flow chart of workers in the office, the name "Creed Bratton" is seen in quotation marks, indicating that the office does not think that his real name is Creed Bratton.

In "Goodbye Toby", it is revealed that Creed does not remember his position at the company: when asked by Holly Flax about his occupation, Creed is struck clueless by her inquiry, and abruptly excuses himself to avoid answering the question. In the following interview, he attempts to recall the name of his occupation, coming to the words, "quabity ashwitz". While he acknowledges that this is not the name, he believes that he is "getting close" (Creed works as a Quality Assurance Rep. for Dunder Mifflin). In a deleted scene, Creed says fondly that he gave the departing Toby the number of his friend Jorge in Costa Rica, who will hook Toby up with various items including "this amazing coffee that you snort".[23]

In "Weight Loss", Kelly says that Creed sold her a "tapeworm" which would eat all her food and help her lose more weight. Creed told the camera it wasn't a tapeworm.

In "Baby Shower," Creed says that Jan's tub birth would be "like the tide at Omaha Beach," which perhaps implies that Creed was involved in the D-Day invasions. This makes sense if he was, indeed, born in 1925 as he claims.

In "Crime Aid", Creed strongly implies that he at some point assumed the identity of "Creed Bratton" from a man who "disappeared" after stealing from him.

In "Frame Toby", Creed shows concern when two policemen show up at the office looking for narcotics. Michael and Dwight had actually called the cops in an attempt to frame Toby Flenderson for the possession of these narcotics. Creed is then shown in a talking head interview telling the camera crew to pretend that they are talking until the cops leave.

In "Moroccan Christmas", Creed is shown enjoying a hookah. He also states that he could get a permit for reventilation in less than an hour, implying that he has connections with many people for various illegal activities.

In "Lecture Circuit Part 1", Creed mentions to Andy he had a relationship with would-be presidential assassin "Squeaky" Fromme. Also, when Jim approaches Creed for a $3 donation for Kelly's birthday party, Creed hands Jim a $3 bill with George W. Bush's face on it.

In "Blood Drive", while Michael complains of the low number of people, he says "and Creed signed up twice". Creed later says that it is to receive the blood. Later in the episode, Creed steals blood packets from the Blood Drive Truck.

In "Golden Ticket", he and Jim openly praise Dwight for the success of the golden ticket idea, which was actually Michael's. Like the rest of the staff, Creed is aware that it was Michael's idea and jokingly gives Dwight the credit.

In "Casual Friday", Creed spends the day playing board games with Jim. While playing chess, Creed offers to set Jim up with his daughter. Jim replies that he is engaged to Pam. Surprised, Creed states that he thought Jim was gay. When Jim asks why Creed would try to set him up with his daughter if he were gay, Creed looks confused and mutters that he doesn't know why.[24]

In "Gossip", Michael starts rumors about everyone in the office and says Creed has asthma. Creed becomes upset over this because it would prevent him from scuba diving.

In "The Promotion", a very brief conversation between Creed and Meredith implies that they had sex once, but Creed didn't remember.[25]

In a deleted scene in "Niagara", Creed tells Meredith that the restaurant where they are dining used to be the base of operations for his cigarette smuggling operation. Later, he goes to a booth and pulls the cushion out. From under the cushion, he digs out an old, dusty cigarette carton.

In "Murder", Creed shows up late to work and steps in during the middle of the office's murder mystery game. When Michael tells him that they have discovered a murder and he is a suspect, Creed steps out under the guise of settling at his desk, but is caught by the camera running back to his car and fleeing the parking lot (this is possibly an allusion to the disappearance of the "other" Creed Bratton as mentioned in "Crime Aid").

In "Scott's Tots", Creed joins the rest of the office in voicing his displeasure at the fact that Jim unknowingly named himself employee of the month and then followed up by naming Pam, his wife, as employee of the month, as she was next on the list. After this, Creed suggests to the rest of the office that he believes Pam isn't even pregnant.

In "Sabre" after Michael opens up the box of items intended for the representative from Sabre, Creed is given a power cord to a printer which he happily accepts.

In "The Cover-Up", while Andy believes there is a conspiracy relating to faulty printers going on at Sabre, Creed mysteriously walks by him and slices his hand across his throat. Creed later explains that Darryl, who he calls "Darnell", paid him three dollars to walk by Andy and make that motion (Darryl had been attempting to scare Andy into thinking there was a conspiracy). Creed calls "Darnell" a "Chump", claiming he would have done it for anything of value, and that he has done "a lot more for a lot less".

Creed is placed on the "losers" side of Robert's list as old man. When Andy asks Pam if the group around her really are losers, Creed is seen eating pizza, oblivious to his surroundings (The List).

During Robert California's pool party, Creed appears mostly in the background but a quick shot of him shows him wearing a white bath robe playing some sort of instrument that resembles a guitar by the pool (Pool Party).

When Andy remarks how quiet things are around the office, Creed comments that he likes the silence due to the copious amount of plays it has allowed him to write. He is later seen reading the magazine "Dwell" with Kevin Tallahassee

Creed thought that the copier did tricks in the high wire, and mistook Dunder Mifflin for a dog-food company. (New Guys)

In Lice, Creed and Pam ended up together. Creed was upset with the idea, and after Pam applied mayonaise to his hair he claimed she'd done a bad job and walked away, leaving her.

In Finale, it is revealed that sometime between "A.A.R.M." and this episode that he faked his death in order to escape the police (causing Dwight to rehire Devon White). Later in the episode when Erin meets her real parents, Creed is shown to be in the audiance, wearing a white beard. He later reappears during the final scene in the office, singing a song while playing the guitar to everyone. He is then promptly arrested, although he seems at least content with going to prison.

In most shots where we can see Creed's monitor, he's playing Solitaire.

The actor Creed Bratton was the lead guitarist for the Sixties rock group The Grass Roots. In a deleted scene from "The Booze Cruise," this piece of history was incorporated into his character as well. In "The Office," Creed appears to be portraying a parody of himself, as a Sixties burnout.

In the same deleted scene, Creed claims that thanks to his extended drug use during his rock and roll days, 90 seconds is the longest amount of time that he can remain focused and concentrated on any task.

Creed claims to have spent time in an iron lung as a teenager. ("The Injury")

Creed claims to had his own radio show in the 1970s, using the name "DJ Wacky Weed Creed." ("The Return")

Creed lives in Toronto three days a week to take advantage of the welfare state; he spends the remainder of the week living in the office, sleeping on the couch in reception and using the water-cooler and paper towel to bathe.

Has faked his own death and, at one point, was living off of his life insurance payout.(Product Recall)

"I’m not offended by homosexuality. In the 60s I made love to many, many women – often outdoors in the mud and the rain – and it’s possible that a man slipped in. There’d be no way of knowing..." ("Gay Witch Hunt" Season 3 Episode 1)

"The only difference between me and a homeless man is this job. I will do whatever it takes to survive…like I did when I was a homeless man." ("Product Recall" Season 3 Episode 20)

"I'm a pretty normal guy. I do one weird thing. I like to go in the women's room for number two. I've been caught several times and I have paid dearly." ("Women's Appreciation" Season 3 Episode 22)

"I’ve been involved in a number of cults both as a leader and a follower. You have more fun as a follower but you make more money as a leader." ("Fun Run" Season 4 Episode 1)

"Two eyes, two ears. A chin. A mouth. Ten fingers, two nipples. A butt, two knee caps, a penis. I've just described to you the Lochness Monster. And the reward for its capture? All the riches in Scotland. So I have one question: why are you here?" ("The Seminar " Season 7 Episode 14)